Family matters: Wewood

With a heritage in joinery that stretches back five decades, Porto-based family business Wewood is on a mission to put Portuguese furniture design firmly on the international design map.

Deur Wewood en Sisse Bro vir

Wewood

April 12, 2021 | 10:00 pm CUT

Craftsmanship and the human touch are highly valued at Wewood, both in the selection of its wood, as well as in the detailed, hand-finished work processes it employs

Father and son, cousins, family and friends – the woodworkers at Wewood are all related somehow. Finding new craftspeople trained in furniture production is a challenge in Portugal, as formal technical education in it simply doesn’t exist. The dedication to this craft is, more often than not, inherited from relatives – where the factory becomes the real school.

The foundation of Wewood lies precisely in its joinery. Serious expertise in working with solid wood has been developed over more than five decades, and the company, launched by two second-generation sons in 2012, makes the most of its excellent heritage to scout new markets.

In the space of just a couple of years, Wewood has expanded its team from five people to over twenty – a growing business, thanks, in large part, to the dedication of its employees

Porto is known as the furniture capital of Portugal, and the ‘Made in Portugal’ stamp is one that is highly considered, but how many brands do we actually know from there? Very few – but this is what the brothers behind Wewood are eager to change. Distinguished production and classy designs, amplified with genuine communication, is their formula.

Wewood’s parent company ‘Móveis Carlos Alfredo’ has specialised in the manufacture of solid wood furniture since 1964

Wewood has been present at the most influential furniture fairs in Europe and their products are available through specialist dealers worldwide. Lately, they launched a store-in-store in London, and plans are afoot to open their own flagship stores in the coming years. They do not question the power of online presence, yet they insist on offering their clients the possibility of a physical, hands-on, retail experience.

And like a true Portuguese explorer, Wewood exports its know-how with both flair and an open mind.